From experience, that route (via Echunga) is quite a tricky one, and especially tricky for a truck with a load like that on it. Plus, from memory there is a load limit on that route + any drivers caught behind that load would have no chance of overtaking; double lines most of the way and lots of deceptive corners. I reckon they'll stop about Tailem or there about and leave about 3 or 4 and go down via the freeway. Just my thoughts thoigh

Agreed - at least Mt Barker to Echunga.

Hahndorf to Echunga is pretty easy but getting there could be a problem.

Once you are at Echunga it is almost straight with plenty of clearance.

and you can not ride in it until it stops at Millswood.

FiveAA announced that the route it will be taking is via Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn and Mt Compass today. It left Tailem Bend early this morning as part of the 8:00am news bulletin.

FiveAA announced that the route it will be taking is via Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn and Mt Compass today. It left Tailem Bend early this morning as part of the 8:00am news bulletin.

That makes a lot more sense - a quite easy route.

Hope the driver's got a cut lunch. Looking at the route they will have to go almost down to Currency Creek before heading for Mt Compass.

The could just drop them off at Strath for the SHR.

Considering the number to be transported I am surprised the didn't cobble up road wheel sets and jinker to replace the bogies; this would have lowered the height.

It's here. SAR_T186 has posted photos to Facebook. A delayed arrival due to a missed turn, 4001 commenced backing into the depot at about 11:15, with 3023 to greet it. Channel 10 and a DPTI aerial drone were present taking photos. Because I used my real camera, not my phone. Will post some pics on Flickr later today. I can't upload until I get home.

I noticed on Facebook that the first A-City carriage has arrived at Seaford. Can anyone confirm?

Great news for Adelaide.

I noticed on Facebook that the first A-City carriage has arrived at Seaford. Can anyone confirm?

Great news for Adelaide.

Yes!

My son just sent me a photo taken by a friend from inside the yard.

Should be on the rails as I write. (hopefully). No sign of foliage sticking out from the roof!

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL concerned!

Ian

It's here! Watching then unload right now - 3023 will be towing

It's rolling onto the track right now - channel 9 have only just arrived in time to catch it

[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7308/9316907199_2cd17dc2fd.jpg[/img]4001 begins her journey down to the rail



[img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/9316904425_99980ccfd0.jpg[/img]Touchdown!



[img]http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2814/9316902787_fbbe3c279c.jpg[/img]3023 ready to couple and tow 4001

Shiny! thanks for the pics dvdplaza gonna look great seeing those 3 car sets rolling past.

As with Dr James, thanks for the pics dvdplaza.  They are going to be a very slick looking train aren't they, even better than Perth's B-series in my opinion.

Yes!

My son just sent me a photo taken by a friend from inside the yard.

Should be on the rails as I write. (hopefully). No sign of foliage sticking out from the roof!

You spoke too soon


Looks like pine needles to me.

As with Dr James, thanks for the pics dvdplaza.  They are going to be a very slick looking train aren't they, even better than Perth's B-series in my opinion.

They damn well should be better than the B-Series, being the next generation onwards!

One thing I think is interesting to note is the number 4001A, which looks to me like an indication that the 22 units will be numbered 4001-4022 with the three cars in each unit having a letter suffix. I guess that will be confirmed if 4001B and 4001C come along next to complete the first unit.

Justapax

The letter may be for A end and B end just like they had cast brass plates on the Red Hens.

You suggestion of units being A, B & C has some merit.

Makes arranging delivery easier, As cab to rear of truck, Cs cab to front of truck.

All very well until a set or two have a collision or other misfortune. They could well finish up with a surplus of A's and two or more Cs out of service. Until the goal loop is reinstated there is no way of turning them. (somebody needs to take over from Heath) A turntable at Dry Creek would silence the Gaol Loop supporters (just).
Exciting day

Ian

All very well until a set or two have a collision or other misfortune. They could well finish up with a surplus of A's and two or more Cs out of service. Until the goal loop is reinstated there is no way of turning them. (somebody needs to take over from Heath) A turntable at Dry Creek would silence the Gaol Loop supporters (just).
Exciting day

Instead of reinstating the Gaol loop or building a turntable at Dry Creek, would it be possible to turn using the Rosewater Loop? Have the locomotive go from Dry Creek to Port Adelaide then to Adelaide, before returning to Dry Creek.  Obviously it would need to be towed but would this theoretically be possible?

It would then negate the need to build a turntable which I would imagine would see limited use? (I could be wrong on this part)

Justapax

The letter may be for A end and B end just like they had cast brass plates on the Red Hens.

You suggestion of units being A, B & C has some merit.

Makes arranging delivery easier, As cab to rear of truck, Cs cab to front of truck.

All very well until a set or two have a collision or other misfortune. They could well finish up with a surplus of A's and two or more Cs out of service. Until the goal loop is reinstated there is no way of turning them. (somebody needs to take over from Heath) A turntable at Dry Creek would silence the Gaol Loop supporters (just).
Exciting day

Ian

"They" will probably, just to your consternation, label the centre car with "T" for Trailer. Leaving you with "A End" and "B End" like most permanently coupled sets do these days.

I've just posted my photos from this morning to Flickr. Enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98951543@N02/sets/72157634706505004/

Instead of reinstating the Gaol loop or building a turntable at Dry Creek, would it be possible to turn using the Rosewater Loop? Have the locomotive go from Dry Creek to Port Adelaide then to Adelaide, before returning to Dry Creek.  Obviously it would need to be towed but would this theoretically be possible?

It would then negate the need to build a turntable which I would imagine would see limited use? (I could be wrong on this part)

I believe the Rosewater loop has been booked out of service since the opening of the new Port River bridge in 2007 so a movement like that isn't possible any longer.  As I understand it the track is still there but the level crossings and all associated signalling equipment recently were removed (I suppose to pre-empt any theft).

You suggestion of units being A, B & C has some merit.

Makes arranging delivery easier, As cab to rear of truck, Cs cab to front of truck.

Alternately, for delivery of the opposite end cars the truck could park with the ramp end facing the opposite direction if the orientation does matter for the road trip. I guess the logistics of how the shunts go in the depot might have an influence on the procedure. Good thing a portable ramp is being used for maximum flexibility!

I will be more interested in how things go with the centre cars which have permanent couplings that won't be as simple to handle as coupling up with a DEMU or even the previously-delivered end car of the same unit.

Good work by the road transport crews, the DPTI photos showed that there was some very tight work to be done, especially at the Seaford end.

All very well until a set or two have a collision or other misfortune. They could well finish up with a surplus of A's and two or more Cs out of service. Until the goal loop is reinstated there is no way of turning them. (somebody needs to take over from Heath) A turntable at Dry Creek would silence the Gaol Loop supporters (just).

Surely it would be cheaper to just use a crane to turn one around than to build a new turntable or rebuild an otherwise unnecessary connection from the Gaol Spur to make it a loop if that was ever a problem.

In the event of a unit needing to be formed of a mixture of different units' cars while others are under repair, it would be no hassle to reform a unit as 4016A-4016B-4003A for the time being and have internal systems simply refer to it as 4016 for operational purposes while still tracking the individual cars for maintenance records. It's a small fleet of only 22 units in total so the maintenance crews should be able to cope with the occasional anomaly.

It would be of more more interest to spotters and haulage/mileage logging enthusiasts than anything else! If you read through various UK forums you'll see there is a great amount of hysterical chatter when a unit is formed of cars from two different units, or when intermediate cars are redistributed to consolidate a fleet into a smaller number of longer units.

So now that Bombardier are geared to churn out our new trains, how many per month or so can they spit out?

IE, when the new Seaford station opens, how many services will be blessed with electric services in say Feb 1 2014

Supposedly 1 car each week, therefore we can expect a new train every 3 weeks

So now that Bombardier are geared to churn out our new trains, how many per month or so can they spit out?

IE, when the new Seaford station opens, how many services will be blessed with electric services in say Feb 1 2014

All Seaford services will be electric so the hand outs say. I doubt there are enough DMUs to extend the NC service to Seaford and if they did it would be a "one buttock" solution.

They would not want to start Seaford services without the proposed intensive timetable which can only be worked by the EMUs.

As for 1 February, we will wait with eager but unheld breath. The present Gov't would want it running before the March elections but not the publicity if it stuffs up.

Delivery will have to be better than one car per week, that is 66 weeks which makes for completion October 2014. Two deliveries per week would have enough units on the rails before the election.

Ian

I believe the Rosewater loop has been booked out of service since the opening of the new Port River bridge in 2007 so a movement like that isn't possible any longer.  As I understand it the track is still there but the level crossings and all associated signalling equipment recently were removed (I suppose to pre-empt any theft).

The Rosewater loop was used earlier this year to transfer cars between the Outer Harbor line and Dry Creek during the rebuild of the Adelaide yard.